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Ratatat

Ratatat

Date: Jul 20 2009

Themes: Alternative, Tech

Grammar: Adverbs

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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These days, unless you’re listening to the classical station, you aren’t likely to hear a lot of music without words on the radio. Nonetheless, the duo Ratatat creates rich, complex songs that manage to express a lot of meaning and emotion even though they don’t have any lyrics.

The band is made up of just two guys, one who plays guitar and one who plays a synthesizer. But fans of the band have called its music “orchestral” because it sounds like there could be a whole orchestra of instruments contributing to their songs.

Listen to Mason get creative to describe the band’s music to Ella.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Ella

Ella

Mason

Mason

Ella:  Oh man, Ratatat was just in town. I’m a pretty big fan. They’re great workout music, you know? They pump you up.

Mason:  They’re great kick-ass music in general.

Ella:  Totally.

Mason:  It’s just this duo, but they produce so much sound. This electronic, really orchestral sort of thing.

Ella:  Yeah, well the production on it is just classic. I mean, you can listen to it at any time you want. You don’t have to memorize words, you just kind of go to the beat.

Mason:  It’s funny though, I got their new album, LP3, and it’s really more avant-garde and spacey, it doesn’t have that kind of driving, bombastic feel.

Ella:  Not as much bass as it usually does…

Mason:  Seriously. ‘Cause like, I remember when I heard their first album and I was like, “If the French Revolution had a soundtrack from the Nintendo, this is what it would sound like.”

Ella:  That first album is amazing. It just blows your mind, like, I didn’t know you could produce that kind of music, or the kind of sounds that come in…That’s sad about the third album. I don’t know, should I check it out?

Mason:  It’s worth seeing if you’re really a fan of the band, right? Because it shows that they’re trying to experiment and spread their wings a bit and like go beyond their comfort zone, which you gotta respect.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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The electronic music duo Ratatat recently came out with a new album. Both Mason and Ella are big fans of the band. Ella especially likes listening to Ratatat when she’s working out because the music really pumps her up. Mason agrees that the music is usually very exciting to listen to, even though the songs don’t have any words.

But Mason thinks that Ratatat’s latest album is a bit quieter than the band’s older work. He doesn’t find LP3 quite as exciting as the previous albums, but he still thinks that fans of the band would enjoy the new album.

Do you think music without words can be interesting and exciting to listen to? Do you like listening to music when you work out?

 

Comments

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Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

They are great workout music? They pump you out? As for me not at all. I have just listened some of their compositions and I don't feel very excited or full of energy. I think it's better for relaxation, just to calm down.

07:58 PM Jul 20 2009 |

luosijie203

Taiwan

To be honest, I never heard that bands—Ratata. But I have heard of the BANDARY bands, and I like their music a lots, it makes me relax and comfortable. I think they are the same kind of music style. I'll try to listen to the Ratata's song.

03:01 PM Jul 20 2009 |

larrychen

larrychen

China

I am just lisenting to their music, kind of cool~~

02:09 PM Jul 20 2009 |

Таьяна

Russian Federation

I have never heard about Ratatat's band. It makes a good impression.

02:08 PM Jul 20 2009 |

Futuristic

Futuristic

Philippines

Basically, It depend on your mood wheather you like just instrumental or with lyrics but as for me I would like to hear a song with lyrics so that you'll know the thought of the song.

01:21 PM Jul 20 2009 |

shv_2005

shv_2005

India

maybe i don't now . but i like to much song without any words. in my india there are to much example .

it's kisk-ass much makes me kick back .neurotic  person try to listen these type of song

12:03 PM Jul 20 2009 |

蓝亮

China

水性杨花

 

 

11:21 AM Jul 20 2009 |

NIIS

NIIS

Germany

Ratatat?? Has anyone heard the name before? Me definitely not.

I just checked their music on youtube and they truly suck. :D

 

07:40 AM Jul 20 2009 |

EngGuitat

China

This lesson is just as avant-grade as the Ratatat.

I mean I don't get it.

I wonder if it's black metal.

05:56 AM Jul 20 2009 |

kaseem

kaseem

Syrian Arab Republic

it is the best.

01:47 AM Jul 20 2009 |

kaseem

kaseem

Syrian Arab Republic

I have never heard about Ratatat's band ,but I like their music and all music is which just music without words,this kind of music make me feeling high and comfortable. 

01:41 AM Jul 20 2009 |

zhangxiaomie

China

I have never heard  Ratatat before this dialog.now i'm listening their songs. it's so cool!

01:23 AM Jul 20 2009 |

Ray81191837

China

I like music…it's make me relax

the pop is my favorite…

But I listening Gothic music when I was nervous…

12:35 AM Jul 20 2009 |

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